Pneumatic-cushioned wheel.



1. H. BABGOUK. PNEUMATIC GUSHIONED WHEEL. APPLIQATION FILED SEPT. 21,1911.

Patented Oct-1 6 W o w 0 a &

I a a. 1 0. I J, a w M0 c0 mam PLANOGRApi-l CO..WASH\NOTON. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IRWIN H. BABCOCK, OF DE RUYTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO LYMANA. COON, OF DE RUYTER, NEW YORK.

PNEUMATIC-GUSHIONED WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented 0a. 1, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IRWIN H. BABCOOK, a citizen of the United States,residing at De Ruyter, in the county of Madison and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic-CushionedWheels; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in pneumatic cushioned wheels.

One object of the invention is to provide a wheel of this characterhaving an improved construction and arrangement of pneumatic cushionedrim and spokes adapted to provide an elastic or yielding tread for thewheel without danger of puncturing the cushioning device.

Another object is to provide a wheel of this character having all theadvantages of a pneumatic tired wheel, which will not slip or skid andwhich is free from the many other disadvantages found in pneumatic tiredwheels.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction, and the combination and arrangement ofparts as will be more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of awheel constructed in accordance with the invention, parts of the samebeing broken away and in section; Fig. 2 is a vertical cross sectionalview through the parts shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail perspectiveview of one of the yieldingly supported spokes of the wheel; Fig. 4: isan enlarged cross sectional view through one of the spokes and itsguiding and supporting sleeve showing the manner in which the spoke isslidably supported in the sleeve.

In the embodiment of the invention, I provide a hub 1 which preferablyhas its periphery or outer surface grooved to form a curved seat for anannular pneumatic cushion 2 comprising an endless elastic tube which isengaged with the grooved periphery of the hub and is designed to beinflated in any suitable manner. Arranged around and spaced a suitabledistance from the annular pneumatic cushion or tube 2 is an inner spokeguiding and holding band 3,

while around said band 3 and spaced a con slderable distance therefromare outer spoke guiding and holding bands 1, said bands being arrangedconcentrically and having formed therein oppositely disposed spokereceiving passages 5 with which are slidably engaged the cushionedspokes of the wheel as will be hereinafter more fully described. Betweenthe inner and outer bands 8 and 4: and in line with the passages 5 aresecured spoke guiding and supporting sleeves 6 in which, adjacent totheir inner and outer ends are formed pairs of right angular bearinglugs 7. In the lugs 7 are secured the shafts of grooved spoke guidingand supporting rollers 8 which engage the opposite sides of the spokes 9and slidably support the same in the sleeve and permit thesame to freelyslide through the passages 5 in the bands 3 and 4: of the wheel.

, The spokes 9 are in the form of cylindrical rods on the inner ends ofwhich are secured segmental. or slightly curved plates 10 which engageand press against the pneumatic cushion 2 around the hub of the wheel asclearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The blades 10 are nearly01' fully as wide as the cushion 2 so as to bear reliably upon it whenit is compressed to a considerable extent, and their curvature is in theplane of the wheel and hence of the cushion so that the latter will notbe injured by the corners of the plate pressing upon it. The outer endsof the spokes 9 project a. suitable distance beyond the outer band 4 andhave secured thereto heads 11 in the form of slightly curved bars whichproject on 0pposite sides of the spokes and have formed in their outersurface a plurality of notches or recesses 12 of which there may be anysuitable number, said notches or recesses being provided to receive andhold in place a plurality of endless wire cables 13 which when engagedwith said heads formthe tire of the wheel. The heads or bars 11 curvetransversely of the wheel so that each stands in a plane at right anglesto the curvature of the blades 10, the obvious purpose being to make thetire or tread of the wheel slightly rounding. The cables 13 arepreferably formed of line strands of woven or twisted wire and whenengaged with the heads 11 of the spokes provide a flexible tire whichcannot be readily injured by passing over rough surfaces or sharpobjects and 11 which will positively prevent the wheel from skidding orslipping. By constructing and arranging the spokes and tire as hereinshown and described it will be seen that when pressure is applied to thetire it will be imparted through the spokes to the pneumatic cushionwhich will form a yielding support and will absorb all shocks and jarsto which the wheel may be subjected in passing over rough or unevensurfaces. The pneumatic tube or cushion 2 and the inner ends of thespokes are preferably covered by annular side plates 14 which aresecured to the flanged outer edges of the inner band 3, and to the hub1, one of said plates being removably secured by screws 15 or othersuit-able fastening devices. In the center of each of the plates 14: isformed a circular opening 16 of suflicient size to permit the ends ofthe hub to project through the plates.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the construction and operation of the invention will bereadily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the principle orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as claimed.

Having'thus described my invention, what I claim is;

1. Ina pneumatic cushioned wheel, a hub, an endless pneumatic cushionarranged around said hub, inner and outer bands around said cushion andhaving alined passages, sleeves between and secured to the bands withtheir ends communicating with said passages, lugs in each sleeve, tworollers journaled between said lugs and having grooved peripheriesdefining an opening registering with said passages, spokes pass ingloosely through said passages and sleeves and guided through theopenings between said rollers, segmental plates secured on the innerends of the spokes and curved in the plane of said cushion against whichthey rest, heads secured on the outer ends of said spokes and curved ina plane at right angles to that mentioned, and a flexible rim passingaround all said heads.

2. In a pneumatic cushioned wheel, a hub, an endless pneumatic cushionaround said hub, inner and outer bands surrounding and concentric wit-hsaid cushion and having alined passages, sleeves between and secured tothe bands with their ends communicating with said passages, two rollersmounted in each sleeve and having grooved peripheries defining anopening registering with said passages, spokes passing loosely throughsaid passages and sleeves and guided through the openings between saidrollers, plates secured on the inner ends of the spokes and curved inthe plane of said cush on against which they rest, and a flexible rimpassing around the outer ends of all said spokes.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing wit-- nesses.

IRWIN H. BABCOCK. Witnesses LEON B. CLARK, E. J. PooL.

pics of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

